Automobile windshield wiper



Oct. 30, 1928., V J. W. SMALL AUTOMOBILE wINnsnzELn wmm Filed Maren 12,1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 .lll ||l|||| |I III Il IL l'uentor Patented Oct.'30, 1928.

. UNITED STATES 1,639,214 PATENT OFFICE'.

JAMES W. SMALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE WINDSEIELD WIPER.

Application ledl March 12, 1.924. Serial No. 698,598.

shaft of an automobile or other power driven.

vehicle.

Another object of this'invention is to pr'ovide an automaticallygoverned window wiper that will develop an increase'in its speed and anincrease in its Vnumber of wiping strokes as the machine increases-inspeed.

of travel, thus, to rapidly remove the increased deposit of snow, ram ormoisture that accumulates due to the increase in speed of the vehicle.

Another object is to provide a wind shield wiper that will be setinrmotion at the instant the vehicle is started and that will ceasemotion when the vehicle stops' by means of mechanism which includes onlya single exible shaft connected to some driven part of the automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wind -shield wiper ofample strength, and at the same time, of such construction thatin noposition will it deprive the operator of an appreciable portion ofhis.vievv of the road.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a wind shield wiper thatmay be attached to a wind shield in such a manner as to lallow the sameto be set at any desired angle.

It is also the object of this invention to provide a wind shield wiperthat may be operated by hand from the inside of the vehicle for thepurpose of removing from the both sides of the Wind shield, the moisturethat accumulates while the vehicle is not in motion.

A further object is to provide'a poweroperated wind shield wiper,controllable at the will of the operator.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being -set fort-h in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings.

' Fig. 1 isa perspective view of my5 improved ,wind shield wiperconnected to a speedom.

eter of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is '1n part a s ectlonal view showing the bevel gear driven by4the exible shaft '1 in mesh with the bevel gear that drives theworm,and in part an elevation vlew'showing the connections between theworm, worm gear, rack and the pinion; y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-8 of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows; p

Fig. 4 `is an elevationalview showing the rack in mesh with the pinionthat drives the Wlper.; f

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a top pla-n view of a guide;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the guide shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is. a sectional view showing the connection to the speedometershaft; and

Fig. 9 is a. plan view partly in section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, the flexible shaft l1 is connected to the flexibleshaft 2 of the speedometer 73. A bevel gear 3 at the end of the flexibleshaft 1 is 4in mesh with a bevel gear 4 connected by'a short shaft 16 tothe worm 5. The worm gearG in mesh with the wormI i5 transmits motion toan eccentrically pivoted connecting rod 7, the extreme end of which isformed and cut to function as a rack. The rack on the connecting rod'meshes with the pinion 8 to which the window wiper or squeegee 9 isattached. A second connecting rod 10, differing from the connecting rod7 in length, operates a second window wiper or Squeegee 11 in tandemwith the wiper or squeegee 9.

In Fig. 2 is shown the means for transmitting motion from the flexibleshaft 1 to the oscillating pinion 8. The bevel gear 3 Secured to theflexible shaft 1 is in mesh with the bevel gear 4 which is keyed to theshaft 16.y The shaft 16- is supported by bearings 17, 17 and 19, thelatter being mounted on thebearing 20 of the iexible shaft 1 while onthe plate 33, as shown in Fig. 3.

located between the bearings 17, 17. Meshed 'with' the worm 5 is theworm' gear Gwhichl y rotates about the pin 27 that passes throu h ythemetal framework 25 of the wind. shie d and through the plate glass 26that is held by the framework.n Eccentrically pivoted` on worm gear 6 bya stud 23is a connecting rod f 100 The worm 5 is keyed'to the shaft y16and,A

. guide 41.

mounted on the pin 30, are meshed with the teeth of the rack 24.

Fig. 3 shows the lass 26 held in the metalframework to w lich the plateor bearing mounting 33 and the Worm gear 6 are bolted by a bolt 35 andnut 36. The worm 5 is in mesh with the worm gear 6 to which is securedthe stud bearing 23. The gear 6 rests against the hub 39 and isjournaled on the the frame 25. On the outside of the glass the wiper orsqueegee 48is-rigidly pinned t0 the shaft 30 being separated from theframework 25 by a threaded washer 49 which screws onto the'bushing 45and holds said bushing in place by being secured to the framework 25. Afiange 50 integral with the bushing rests against the inside of themetal frame 25; thus making possible a tight compressive lit between thebushing 45 and the frame 25.

The guide 41 lits loosely on' the bushing 45 so as to allow it to rockto and fro or oscillate as the pin 23 of Fig. 2 changes in elevationfrom the top to the bottom of its course. The guide 41 is equipped witha flan e 42 which serves to keep the pinion 8 in p ace, and is separatedfrom the pinion 8 by a washer 54 that fits over the bushing 45. Theinside wiper or squeegee 55 is mounted on and secured to the shaft 30 bymeans of the pin 72 and t-he slot 71 and is driven by friction from thelateral surface of the pinion 8. The outside wiper or squeegee 48 iskeyed to and driven by the shaft 30 which is -oscillated by the pinion 8through its frictional engagement with the wiper arm 74 and the pin andslot connection between the latter and the I, shaft 30. Movementsimparted to the arm 74 by the gear 8 will be imparted to the shaft 30 byreason of the cross pin 72. Frictional driving engagement between thesurface of the pinion 8 and the'surface of the wiper arm 74 ismaintained by the spring 56 which is held in place by the cotter pin 57.Figs. 6 and 7 show respectively the plan and elevational views of theguide 41 of Fig. 5. This guide comprises a vertical plate 75 which isprovided with a hole 76 slightly larger inl diameter than the bushing 45of Fig. 5 in order that the guide may be loosely journaled on thebushing 45.

f Fig. 8 illustrates the means for transmitting motion from the rigidshaft 58 of the speedometer to the flexible shaft 1 of the therein.

wind shield wiper operating mechanism. This means comprises the bevelgears 57 and 60 which are secured to their respective rigid shafts Gland58. The shaft 61- rotates in a sleeve 62 which is splined, as shown inFig. 8, at` 77 to the collar 63 for sliding movement The collarl 63 isprovided with a ball clutch 64, the sleeve 62 being recessed at 67 and78 spaced apart along the upper surface of the sleeve 62.. The ball 64is held in contact with the sleeve by means of the compression spring65, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of the set screw 66.In the position shown the gears 57, 60 would not mesh, but by advancingthe sleeve 62 to a position such that the ball 64 wouldrest in therecess 67, the gears would thus be caused to mesh so. that an operatingconnection to the speedometer-shaft may be obtained at Will. Thehousing' 68 constructed to admit the shaft 58 and to supply the collar63 is equipped with the bushing 69 and the bearing -70 through which theshaft 58 passes; the housing 68 is also provided .with a collar 71 intowhich fits the speedometer 73.

A iexible tube 78 'equipped at each end with means 80 and 75l/providedfor attachment to the sleeve 62 and to the bearing 20,

respectively, surrounds and protects the ilexible -shaft 1. The iexibletube 78 comprises a wal-l 8l formed by a cont-inuous spirally twisted'strip of metal adapted on its lateral edges to flexibly connectsuccessive turns of said spiral together and the rigid means forattachment 8O and 79. The tube 7 84 and the shaft 1 are supported fromabove by the short sha-ft 16 by means of a bearing '19 journaled onshaft 16 and restricted from-sliding off said shaft by the bevel gear 4;and from below by the-sleeve 62 which is securely held in the collar 63.The bearing bracket 20 comprises attachment means 79 provided to supportthe Hexible tube 7 8, bearing means havingan opening 82 in which theshort shaft 83 is journaled and hearing means 19 journaled on the shortshaft 16 forming a suspension support for the flexible shaft 1 and theflexible tube 78 and causing contact to exist between the teeth of thebevel gea-rs 3 and 4.

A second wiping device 11 is detachably connected to the operating meansof the wiping device 9 and is operated by mechanism similar to thatdescribed and associated with wiper 9. A'connecting rod 10 pivotallyattached to the connecting rod 7 'at 87 of-Fig. l provided at itsextreme end remote from the pivoted end with arack-84 and held in placeby a guide 85, oscillates a'pinionv86 whicl in turn oscillates the wiperor squeegee 1 .l

The guides 41 and 85 are loosely journaled on their respective bearingsand the connecting rods 7 and 10 are pivot-ally joined together at 87 ofFig. 1 so as to permit the rocking or oscillating movement created bythe change in elevation of the ends ofthe connecting rods caused by theeccentric nature of the mechanism. When the worm gear 6 rotates the endof the connecting rod 7 attached to it suifers a change in elevation;when lowered the Opposite end of the same is raised alonglwitli the endof the connectingrod 10 whic v the connecting rod 10 is lowered .causingits guide 85 to tilt one way while the guide 41 of Fig. tilts the other.

The invention provides a means for de? tachably connectingthe flexibleshaft l tothe speedometer shaft 2' so as to transmit power to the wipingmechanism at the will of the.

operator. A rotary motion is transmitted from the speedometer 7 3through the flexible l tion of the squeegee or wiper by the operatorfrom withinyvhile the-gear 6 is not in motion'. The oscillating movementis further trans- I .mitted to a second wiper 11 provided to clean otherportions of the wind shield by the connecting rod and the pinion 86; afriction driving connection identical with that associated with thewiper or squeegee 9 being used to transmit an oscillating movement fromthe pinion 86 to the wiper or squeegee 11 thus the mechanism permitsmanipulation of all squeegees by the operator from within Whilethevehicle is not in motion. A pivotal attachl ment at 19 of the exibleshaft 1 to the short 'shaft 16 is provided so as to` allow the windshield to be set at any angle without afecting the operation oftlie-wiper.- Thatis to say, the bearing 19 is pivotally/su'spended onthe horizontal shaft 16. Therefore, since the shaftl 1 and tube 78 areflexible, the tiltable section of the windshield may 'be .adjusted tovany desired angle without interfering with the operation of thewindshield v'vip e'r. l It should also be noted that the pivotallysuspended bearing 19 is rigidly connected to the upright bearing 20 Aandthese bearings, confine and hold the beveled gears 3 and 4' in mesh'witheach other. L i

In my divisional application, Serial No. 262,37 9, led March 17, 1928,"1have described and .claimed the powergtake-oi or drive for thewind-shield wiper, vas illustrated in Figs.

y 1, 8 and 9 of this application.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement. of the parts without departinggfrom the spiritand sc ope of the invention as defined by e the claims hereto appendedand -I wish thereis pivoted to it; thus the rack end of lfore not berestricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

' Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment i 4of my invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In mechanism for wiping wind shields,

an actuating bar extending longitudinally i of the wind-shield, means atone end of said bar for reciprocating it, a pivotally mounted wiper arm,a pinion on the pivot`of the wiper arm frictionally engaging; said wiperarm, and operating connections between said bar and said pinion toeffect the' oscillation of said wiper arm through said frictional`engagement with the pinion, the'latter permitting manual oscillation ofthe wiper arm independently of said operating connections.

2. In mechanism for wiping wind shields,

said -frame to thej middle portion thereof, a wiper arm, a pivotalsupport for said wiper operativelyy connected to said bar, and africtional lconnection between said vvviper'and a bar extending from oneupper corner ofsaid ypivotal support permitting independi ent manualmanipulation of said wiper.

3. In mechanism for cleaning wind shields, the combination with a wi erarm, of'means for supporting the same or ivotal oscillation, a pinion onsaid pivot ctionally engaging said wiper, an operating rack meshing withsaid pinion, a guide frame for said rack bar cradled on said support tooscillate v and means comprisin a rotating member eccentrically connecteto said rack bar for reciprocating the latter.

`during the reciprocation of said rack bar, f

4. In mechanism for wiping wind shields,

vthe combination with a plurality of \wipers mounted in spaced relationon a wind shield and intermediate the ends thereof, and means foroperating all of the vsaid wipers in tandem from a singlesource ofpower, comprising a pair'of reciprocating rack bars, pinions operativelyconnected to the wipers and actuated by said bars, o erating means common to both rack bars ocated at one corner of the windshield. o

5. In multiple wiping mechanism forwiiid shields, thecombination with aplurality of wipers mounted in spaced-apart positions and spaced fromthe ends of the windshield,

means for operating all the wipers in tandem from a single source ofower, a pair Yof reciprocating rack bars, pinions operatively connectedto the wipers and actuated by said' bars and a detachable connectionbetween Asaid barsfor cuttin" off one of the wipers from being operatedysaid operating means.

6. In mechanism for wiping wind shields,

the combination with operating mechanism, of a vpivotally -mounted wiperarm, and a frictional drivingconnection including a clutch memberentirely at in a single plane between said operating mechanism and saidwiper arm to permit direct manual operation of'said wiper when desiredindependently ofv said operating mechanism whether the latter 1soperating or not.

7. In wind shield wiping mechanism, a wiper arm, means for pivotallysupportin said wiper arm, a pinion concentrical wit 1 said wiper arm andconnected to said wiper for oscillating the same, a rack bar meshingwith said pinion and extending along the uppenframe of the wind shield,a rotating driving device at one corner of the wind .shield andeccentrically connected to said rack bar, and a tiltable guide for saidrack bar to hold the same in mesh with said gear.

8. In wind shield wiping mechanism the combination with a journalbearing secured to the upper frame of the wind shield, a rock Shaftjournaled in said bearing, wipers connected to said rock shaft'to movetherewith on opposite sides 'ofthe glass of the wind shield, a drivinggear connected to said rock shaft,'yie1dable means for holding one ofsaid wiper arms in lfrictional engagement with said driving gear, a rackbar in mesh with said driving gear, a rotating driving de viceeccentrically connected to said rack bar, and a retaining guiding devicefor said rack bar pivotally mounted on said journal bearing and confinedthereto to tilt on the axis of said rock shaft during the reclprocatlonsof said rack bar.

9. In a windshield wiper for automobiles, a pair of wiper arms, meansfor moving said arms over the wind-shield comprising a source of powercommon to both of said arms and a. frictional drive between sald powersource and each of said wiper arms permitting said wiper arms to beindependently manually manipulated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my o name to this specifica-tion on t's 6th day of March, A. D. 1924. .Y

JAMES W. SMALL.

